Kemi Badenoch, leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, has criticised what she called Britain’s soft immigration system, pointing out that Nigerians and others often gain British citizenship more easily than they would allow foreigners in their own countries.
Speaking during an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria on Sunday, Badenoch highlighted the contrast between the UK and Nigeria’s approach to citizenship and immigration. She cited her own experience as an example, saying her children cannot get Nigerian citizenship simply because she is a woman.
“It’s virtually impossible, for example, to get Nigerian citizenship. I have that citizenship by virtue of my parents, I can’t give it to my children because I’m a woman,” she said.
She argued that the UK is being too lenient, allowing many immigrants to stay and eventually acquire citizenship without strict checks — something she claims would not be allowed in countries like Nigeria.
“There are many people who come to our country, to the UK, who do things that would not be acceptable in their countries,” Badenoch stated.
When asked about the idea of allowing immigrants to replicate their home cultures fully in the UK, she responded: “That is not right. Nigerians would not tolerate that.”
Badenoch, who was born in the UK to Nigerian parents but spent much of her childhood in Nigeria, said she would tighten immigration rules and make the path to British citizenship tougher if she becomes Prime Minister.
Before leading the Conservative Party, Badenoch held several cabinet positions under former Prime Ministers Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak between 2022 and 2024.
